Pack frame and bag



Dec. 11, 1945. M. s. WALLACE PACK FRAME AND BAG Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MILTON J .M/HLL/ME @W ATTORNEYJ Dec. 11, 1945.M. s WALLAE 2,390,673

1 PACK FRAME AND BAG Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 11, 1945 Milton S Wallace, Tacoma, Wash.,assignor to. Tacoma Tent andi'Awning Cbmpany,,'1!acoma,.

Wash.

. Application January 11, 19414,.SerialENo. 517E819 2 Claims. (Cl.224.8)

This invention relates't'o improvementsin packsr andpack carryingframes; and has-reference moreparticularly to such packs as thosecarried by hunters, sportsmen, soldiers, prospectors, etc., fortransporting'duffel, or supplies, and-which comprises a frame structureequipped with'a harness wherebyit may be strapped-to the wearer's back,

and a; duffel bag, orsack, that is adapted to be attached to the frameand in which such things as: supplies; bedding and camp equipment,referred to as'duffel, may be carried.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved typeof frame structure; one that is exceptionally lightinweight, strong anddurable in construction and which will spring or yield in conformitywith movements'of the body: Also, a frame to which the duffelbag may beeasily afiixed and from which it maybereadily removed withoutrequiringits being unpacked.

Still further objects of the invention residein certain details ofconstruction of the duifelbag; the details of construction of the framestruc' ture; the means for attaching the bag: to the frame, and thecombination of" the variousparts intheir functional'use.

In accomplishing these and'other objects of theinvention, I haveprovided the improved details; of construction, the preferredlforms ofwhich are illustrated" in the accompanying drawings; ,wherein Fig. 1 isaperspective view of the ied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section of. the pack, showing, the framevand dufiel. bag as applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a. cross, sectional view online 3-3 in. Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame.- structure with the duffelbag removed therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the duffel bag removed from the frameand showing the back side thereof and the attaching tunnels.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 56 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the bag showing its meansfor attachment to the frame.

Referring more in detail to the drawings First, it will be explainedthat this particular type of pack is designed to be carried on aperson's back and to be affixed in place by means of a harnesscomprising a pair of straps that have pack embodends fixed to the upperpart of the pack frame,

with ends thereof arranged to be passed over the wearers shoulders;thenunder the arms and again" fixed to the frame.

The duffel bag isin the nature of a.- sack, and

ofasize to permitit tdcarry a substantial amount of supplies'or' duffel,and which is removably applicable to the frame without requiring that itbe unpacked.

The present: invention deals with the novel details of construction ofthe frame; the details of'construction of the bag; the meansfor attach--ing the bag to the frame and: the combination and relationship of theparts in use.

Referring more particularly: to Fig: 4- of the drawings, whichillustrates, in perspective, the 1. frame structure of the pack; this isconstructed of heavy spring steel wire, and it comprises a central,vertical frame: portion which. is formed from a continuous pieceof'wirebent back upon itself to form a rounded upper endloopdesignatedat 10: in Fig. 6, with the opposite side legs II and H extendingdbwnwardly from the end loop; in spaced relationship-t0 the full-lengthoff the frame. In a frameof normalsize, the spacing of the legs I |-llis approximately six inches apart and the length from the loop end tothe lower end's of the. legs is approximately two feet.

Attached tothe central frame portion, comprised'by the loop l b" andlegs l lIl-, across theupper" and lower end portions: thereof, are twotransverse frames; each of these comprising two horizontal coextensivewires I12 and" I2, spacedapproximately four inches apart, and joined attheir ends by'vertical" members l3. These frames are locatedsymmetrically with respect to the central frame; and'the opposite-endsof each extendabou-t five inches beyond each side of the central-frameportion.

Welded to the outerends of the cross frames;

parallel with-- the connecting wires" are vertieali tubular sleeves I5'. Also, as will be observedbestby reference-- to" Fig. 6-, a crosswire [4 is fixed between the frame legs Hi| and to the upper cross wirel2 of the upper transverse frame, with its central portion offsetupwardly from wire l2, and extended about this wire is an elongatedstrip of canvas or the like, forming shoulder straps l9 and I9, adaptedto be passed over the shoulders of the wearer, then downwardly in frontof the shoulders and beneath the arms. Attached to the lower ends ofthese straps I9l9 are extensions 2| of reduced width adapted to be tiedat their lower ends about the bottom cross wire of the lower transverseframe as will be understood by reference to Fig. 6.

With the frame so equipped with this harness,

erence to the center frame. In order that theframe andpack may becarried without resting directly against the wearers back, I haveextended opposite end portions of cross straps 24 about the sleeves l5.Preferably, there are strips of canvas or the like with their endsjoined by lacings as at 25 whereby the straps ar drawn taut. Thus, whenthe straps are taut, they will rest against the wearer's back and thewire frame and the pack suspended therefrom will be held out from thewearers back. r

The dufiel container or bag, which, in its preferred form, is as shownin perspective view in Figs. 1 and 5, may be in the nature of a sack orbag, of anysuitable material. Preferably this bag would be formed with aback wall 26,,front wall 21, opposite side walls 28-28 and open at,

its upper end. The back member of the bag is extended to form a coverflap 29 which may be drawn over the open end of the bag and downwardlyof the front wall, and it is equipped with attaching straps 3I3,|applicable to buckles or loops 32 that are fixed to the front wall ofthe bag.

By reference to Fig. 5, it will be observed that onthe back wall of thebagalong or near its opposite side edges, are tunnnels or hems 34,stitched thereto. These extend vertically and are in the nature of openendedtubes. V

The length of the tunnels 34 or hems that are sewed to the back of thebag, is equal to the vertical spacing of the cross frames and sleeves l5that are fixed thereto. Also, in their horizontal spacing, thesetunnels, correspond to the length of the cross frames, or distancebetween the sleeves at their opposite ends.

Also, it will be seen that sewed to the upper end of the back wall atthe center thereof, is a downwardly opening pocket 35 which extends upabove the top end ofthe bag andis adapted to receive the looped upperend portion In of the center frame therein as a means of attaching andsuspending the bag from the frame.

In applying the duffel bag to the frame, the pocket 35 is first appliedover the upper looped end portion ll! of the center frame, then thetunnels are registered between the tubular sleeves l5 that are fixed tothe opposite ends of the cross frames and rods 40, as shown in Fig. 6,are passed down through the sleeves and through the alined tubes at theends of th cross frames .50 as to attach the bag to the frame. The rodsas at 4| to keep them fromworking down and from the sleeves.

Packs and pack forms of this kind may be made in various sizes and theproportions might be varied somewhat as desired.

Such packs are exceedingly light, easy to carry, strong and lasting. Thepack may be easily and readily removedfrom the frame merely by pullingthe rods or pins 40 up from the tunnels, and then lifting the bag offthe loop l0.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A pack of the characterdescribed comprising a frame structure with means for securing it uponthe back of a wearer, and a pack sack; said frame structure comprising acentral vertical frame member mad from a single piece of spring wirebent to form a rounded upper end loop and two spaced vertical legs;cross frames fixed to the legs of the central frame member with oppositeend portions extended equally to opposite sides thereof; tubularguidemembers fixed to the ends of the cross members; said tubular guidesat'corresponding ends of upper and lower cross members being in axialalinement; said pack sack having a back wall with tunnel strips fastenedthereto for registering between alined guide tubes,-a downwardly openingpocket fixed to the back wall and containin said upper end loop of thecentral frame; therein, and pins extended through alined guides ,andtunnelstoattach the sack to the frame; said pins being removable torelease the sack and; said sack being adapted to be lifted to releasesaid pocket from the upper end loop of the central frame member.

2. In a pack ofthecharacter described, a back frame having a bodyharnessattached thereto,

said frame comprising a central vertical portion formed from a singlelength of spring wire bent to form a rounded upperend loop and twospaced legs, upper and lower cross frame portions welded to the centralframe member at vertically spaced relationship and extended equally toopposite sides thereof; each cross frame portion being made from asingle length of spring steel wire bent to form upper and lower crossmembers and opposite end members, tubular guides fixed to the endmembers of both cross frames, and cushion" strips extended'about anddrawn taut between the tubular members of each cross frame, and a packsack formed at its upper end Witha downwardly opening pocketpadapted toreceive the rounded upper end of the central frame thereinand havingtunnel strips fixed thereto for registering between the alined tubularguides ofthe cross frame members, and attaching pins removably appliedthrough alined guide tubes and tunnel strips. j V

' MILTON S; WALLACE.

